DENISON, IOWA — Rick Santorum prodded congressional Republicans Tuesday to stand up to Democrats on the budget, arguing that a battle with the White House over spending wouldn't necessarily have the same adverse impact on the party as the Clinton-era government shutdown.

"We need to learn the lesson that 2011 is not 1995," Santorum said at a Republican luncheon here, citing the labor and budget fight in Wisconsin and larger federal deficit to make the case that the public is in a different place. "I think we're in a better atmosphere to pick a fight and draw a line."

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Santorum conceded that the damage from the 1995 shutdown had hurt the GOP's prospects in the 1996 presidential election but noted that his party still held the House and Senate that year.

The likely presidential hopeful also offered praise for Rep. Steve King (R-Ia.), the fiery conservative who represents this area and has introduced legislation to block appropriations funding the federal health care law.

Readers' Comments (20)

Oh Santorum has it right, far far right. Let's deny poor infants and toddlers their basic nutrition, and give an extra four billion to oil companies. And do it all under the pious cloak of family values.

After listening yet to another member of the GOP dodge the questions this morning on TV CNBC I for one hope the Government Shuts Down! Just like Bachmann Eric Cantor also avoided the questions by saying the people will see are plan in the up and coming months. Which tells me they don't have a plan. All lip service once again from the GOP. Also was nice to hear him say that November 2nd was about jobs. Yet all they have done is attack everything else but JOBS!

Hey GOP Jobs, debt and real spending cuts not the nickel & dime B S you are calling cuts. Big oil trillions in profits the last 5 years yet they still get their tax breaks thanks to you puppets of big business.

Since 1967 the membership in the Unions all over America have declined along with the income of the MIDDLE CLASS. This you can find at the Center for American Progress. From thirty some percent to just over ten percent yet our problems of our Nations debt has to do with the Unions. It's not just Union busting but also Middle Class busting thanks to the puppets of big business the GOP. And now they want to change the rules on how College students get to vote.

November 2nd as Eric Cantor stated on CNBC this morning was about JOBS. Yet the GOP have done nothing to help create jobs here! Even their own members in Wyoming are saying it's time to face the real problems and enough of wasting time on Gay rights, abortion and the healthcare bill. They want a smaller Government yet Boehner, Cantor and others are once again heading to bigger government by trying to have new laws passed that the States should only do.

Fascinating and funny -- Santorium who lives in the 50's, so he can make as much money as he can, says what? What a dope; he thinks Americans are stupid. Guess what, Rick, Sarah, Michelle, Rush, Bill? You're idiots. All of you -- truly . Time to face reality. Hate no longer plays with us. We're Americans, we are truly smarter than you think we are.

Fascinating and funny -- Santorium who lives in the 50's, so he can make as much money as he can, says what? What a dope; he thinks Americans are stupid. Guess what, Rick, Sarah, Michelle, Rush, Bill? You're idiots. All of you -- truly . Time to face reality. Hate no longer plays with us. We're Americans, we are truly smarter than you think we are.

Hate no longer plays with us. We're Americans, we are truly smarter than you think we are.

This is the agenda of the GOP. They play to the fears of people who are clueless to what is really going on. They attack our President about everything. And then sit back and claim it's not their job to set the voters straight. That people have a right to believe what they want. Yet it is their members putting out the poison that stirs up the hate. And along with Beck, Rush and the Fox news network they are doing a good job of keeping us divided. Everytime this Country of ours gets further into debt it's never those in Washington who are blamed. But it's always the MIDDLE CLASS that has to give more to pay for what they and big business put us in. Now once again they are going after the Unions which they have been doing since 1967. And since that time the Middle Class income has also been going down. The only earnings that have been going up since 1967 are that of the top 2%. Once they take out the public unions it will not be long before they also try to take out the private unions. This you can now believe because of them now going after the College Students. Trying to change the way people are allowed to vote. It's never ending with these bottom feeders of Big Business!

HEY Cantor why must we wait a few more months to see the plan of the GOP on creating jobs!

UNION & MIDDLE CLASS INCOME facts go to the Center for American Progress and see what the GOP don't want you to know.

Everyone praised Bill Clinton for cutting costs and making the budget balance

The Government Shutdown helped Bill Clinton balance the Budget The cutting of welfare helped Bill Clinton balance the Budget The cutting of government waste helped Bill Clinton balance the Budget The cutting of departments helped Bill Clinton balance the Budget

And

The push by the pre-tea party Republicans pushed the savings onto Bill Clinton! The push by the pre-tea party Republicans to kill HILLARYCARE saved the budget

This left time for Bill Clinton to interview office help, staff and masseusses